Knockdown table.



F. MATTHES.

KNOGKDOWN TABLE. 7

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14, 1909.

PatentedJfily 19, 1910.

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Witmmaw p f M dfmtww Patented July 19, 1910.

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P. MATTHES. KNOGKDOWN TABLE.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 14. 1909.

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Witnesses 0!. M %%Waf FRANK MATTHES, OF'MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

KuocKnoWN TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 19, 1910.

Application filed June 14, 1909. Serial No. 501,381.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK MATTHES, a citizen of the United States, residing at'Milwaukee, county of Milwaukee, and State of isconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Knockdown Tables, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in knock down tables.

The objects of my invention are to provide a form of table consisting of a series of units, each of which may or may not be,

used independently of the others, and in which each unit may be folded by removing the top and bringing thefour legs together in pairs, the bed rails sides being formed in sections and hinged together by one-way hinges, and also hinged to the legs or to the respective ends of the other bed rails, whereby the sectional bed rails are permitted -(when separated from the top), to buckle inwardly and foldto parallel positions. 7

In the following description, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a vertical sectional view of a pair of table units embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail view of one of the'fastenings for holding the bed of any given unit in an extended position. Fig. 3 is a View of myimproved table as seen from the under side. Fig. 4 is a detail sectional View of one of the sectional bed rails, showing a portion of the top and one of the legs, said sectional view being drawn through the connecting hinge of the bed rail sections.

Like parts are identified by the same reference characters throughout the several views. 7

Each unit comprises a rectangular, or substantially square table having a top A and four legs B, and C, C. At least one end margin of the top preferably does not extend beyond the legs,-whereby the legs B, B, of one unit may be brought into close proximit to, or 'actual contact with the legs C, of another unit, asshown in Fig. 1. In Fig. 3 both of the end margins coincide with the outer surfaces of the legs, this unit being adapted to occupy an intermediate position in a series of which the units shown in Fig. 1 may be considered as the end units- The legs B, B, are connected together by a fixed bed rail B and the legs C, C, are connected together by a similar fixed bed rail have on opposite with hook levers M the catches N .as to C. The connected at or near the sides of the table by sectional bed rails hinged tothe rails B and C respectively, by ordinary hinges D. The sections E, E of these side bed rails their ends abutting substantially at the transverse center line of the table unit, and theseabutting ends are connected together by hinges F, the leaves. of which are mortised into the exterior surfaces of the bed rail sections with the pintle located substantially in or exterior to the plane of the outer surfaces of the sections, whereby said sections are permitted to fold upon each other inwardly but are prevented from moving outwardly by the abutting contact of the section ends. They are also prevented from moving outwardly beyond this line, owing to the fact that they are extended beyond the hinges D and bear-upon the outer surfaces of the legs and upon the ends of the end rails B and C respectively.

Near the side margins of the table top A, cleats G are secured to its under surface in a position parallel with, side contact with the sections E, E, when the table top is adjusted to the legs with the latter in a position for use. A slide member I mounted in a suitable support upon each of these cleats is adapted to be actuated by a cam lever'J and forced by the latter into recesses K formed in the inner faces of the sections'E, E, at their abutting ends. These slide members I not only look the table top to the bed b en a 'n in the recesses of the bed sections E, but also cooperate with the cleats G in holding the sections E, E

rigidly in position, the recesses K bein sufliciently shallow, so that the slide Inem ers I will apply a ressure to the sections E, E. at the base of the recesses, thus tending to force the sections E, E outwardly at the hinge joint F.

The legs C of each table unit areprovided table unit are provided with catches N, these hooks M and catches N being mounted u on the inner faces of the respective legs. W en two or more table units are assembled as pairs of legs B, B, and C, C, are I and the legs B of each shown in Fig. 1, the hook levers M on they 7 legs C of one unit are adapted to engage on the legs B of the next succeedin unit. The hooks M are so formed raw upon the catches N and bind the legs B and C ri idly together.

Having thus escribed my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- V 1. A table unit comprising a set of legs rigidly connected in airs by transverse bed rails, sidebed rails ormed in' sections and connected with'the pairs of legs by hinges adapted to permit them to swing inwar ly, one way intermediate hinges connecting the sections of each side bed rail and adapted to permit an inward movement at the point of connection, and a removable top provided with looking members each adapted to engage the inner faces of both of the side bed rail sections at their intermediate hinge, said' locking members being arranged to 111ml lock with the bed rail sections to rigidly connect them with each other and with the table top.

2. A table unit comprising a set of legs rigidly connected in airs by transverse bed rails, side bed rails ormed in sections and connected with the pairs of legs by hinges adapted to permit them to swing inwardly, one way intermediate hinges connecting the abutting ends of the sections of each side bed rail and adapted to permit an inward movement at the point-of connection, said abutting ends having recesses in their inner faces, and a removable top provided with locking members each adapted to engage in the recesses in the inner faces of both of the side bed rail sections.at theirintermediate hinge, said to having cleats adapted to extend along t e inner faces of said side bed rails, and across the intermediate hinge 'oint. 3. A table unit comprising a set of legs rigidly connected in pairs by transverse bed rails, side bed rails formed in sections and connected with the pairs of legs by hinges adapted to permit them to swing inwardly, one way intermediate hinges connecting the sections of each side bed rail and adapted to permit an inward movement at the point of connection, said sections having recesses in their inner faces adjacent to such hinges, and a removable top provided with locking members each adapted to engage in the recesses in the inner faces of both of the side bed rail sections at their intermediate hinge, said top having cleats adapted to extend along the inner faces of said side bed rails, and across the intermediate hinge joint, said locking member being adapted to apply an outward pressure to said side bed rails, and the several hinges being arranged to prevent outward movement materially beyond a lineal alinement of the sections.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANK MATTHES. Witnesses:

O. R. ERWIN, 

